Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/26

 12 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 52. except vaguely that Cecil was the instigator. 1 Don Guerau sent her letters to Philip, indicating his own belief that the story had no better foundation than the talk in the servants' hall at Bolton ; and Philip was rather irritated at the indefiniteness of the information than alarmed at the danger. After brief reflection he satisfied himself that it was mere smoke 2 and idle gossip, caught at by Mary Stuart in the hope of in- gratiating herself with him. 3 He admitted however the expediency of making use of her. The arrest of the ships and money and the imprisonment of the am- bassador were outrages too flagrant to be passed over. If an opportunity really offered itself for overthrowing Elizabeth's Government, he said that in the interest of religion he was willing to sanction her deposition, and he sent discretionary powers to the Duke of Alva to do whatever might seem expedient. The Queen of Scots he accepted as an unwelcome necessity. He bade Don Guerau tell her, that if she were true to her religion he would take up her cause, but his mind misgave him while he consented. ' It would be a bad business/ he admitted, ' to do anything inconsistent with the true Catholic faith.' 4 But the Northern Lords and their confederates formed but the extreme division of the great party of Mary Stuart to Don Guerau, December 4, 1568 : MSS. Simancas. 2 ' Cosa do humo.' 3 Philip II. to Don Guerau, Feb- ruary ult. : MSS. Simancas. 4 ' De cualquier manera que sea, es mal caso mezclar cosa ninguna que contradiga a nuestra verdadera y Catolica religion.' Philip II. to Don Guerau, February 18: MSS. Simancas.